Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 534

June 13, 2011: Akemi's latest culinary creations! Food! Checking out one of the new cars! And, the new, improved, more cerebral me!

 

The other day, Akemi shifted her creative focus to eggs.  I almost didn't have the heart to eat my breakfast…

Dinner is my job on weekends and so, on Saturday, I took requests and made Akemi's favorite: Braised Short Ribs.

Sear them on all sides, make a mirepoix (onions, celery, carrots and herbs), then add port and reduce.  Actually, the recipe calls for a half cup of port and two cups of red wine but I go full port, reducing a full bottle by half, then topping the whole with beef stock and popping it in the oven at 325 for four hours.

By the time it's done, it'll practically melt in your mouth.  I accompanied our meal with a selection of cheese:

Chateau de Bourgogne, Riopelle, and Pierre Robert. A celebration of triple-cremes!

Inspired by Throwdown with Bobby Flay, we decided to have a sandwich-off on Sunday.  I spent most of the day planning my sandwich and, when the time came, Akemi decided she would just eat mine…

Pan-fried oyster mushrooms, Berkshire pork bacon, caramelized onions, St. Andre triple creme cheese, avocado, and polish mayo on ciabatta.

Today, we welcomed one of the stars of our new show – Transporter: The Series – to Toronto…

I spent the day tweaking scripts, talking casting, and eating sushi so bland that I suspect it was ordered from "White Guy Sushi".  Oh, also picked up and modeled my new glasses for the girls in the office.  I thought they made me look more intellectual so I made it a point to wear them in meetings today, taking them off and thoughtfully chewing on the end piece whenever someone said anything remotely interesting.

Hey, it's a veritable Stargate reunion in Toronto.  First Rob Cooper, then Carl Binder and Martin Gero, and now two actors are headed thsi way.  Alaina Huffman (SGU's Tamara Johansen) will be here shooting a secret project (AlainaHuffman) while Michael Shanks (Michael Shanks Online – The Official Michael Shanks Website) comes to town to shoot a pilot (Saving Hope).  Congrats to both!  Looking forward to drinks, dinner, and having someone to pair off with all four dogs.

Tagged: Alaina Huffman, Michael Shanks, Saving Hope

June 12, 2011: Bubba update! Ivon Bartok hits Banff! Woofstock! Pugs eating ice cream! Mailbag!

Bubba update!  We took him back to the vet's for a second visit, this time getting him checked out by a second doctor.  We explained that he'd been quite lethargic of late and, every so often, was given to brief trembling bouts.  The vet informed us that this was a sign he was in pain and proceeded to test his range of motion: pushing, pulling, tapping, and tweaking.  Ultimately, he discovered that Bubba was displaying discomfort along his upper spine and shoulder area, suggesting he may have twisted or pulled something at daycare.  So now, he joins Jelly on the metacam train.  Hopefully he'll be back to his old high-strung self in a couple of weeks.

My friend (and former Stargate Special Features Producer) Ivon Bartok is on his way to Banff.  And what will he be doing in Banff?  This! =  http://www.banffmediafestival.com/deal-makers-live-with-jonathan-torrens.php#contestants  Ivon is one of the eight lucky finalists in Deal Makers Live competition that will see him present a 30 second on-stage pitch of an original show idea.  Ivon and his seven co-contestants will "go head-to-head in a high-profile, high-tech battle for the hearts and minds of both our expert panel and the live BANFF audience".  You can follow my buddy's progress here:  http://twitter.com/ivonbartok  Wish him luck!

Damn!  Visited a couple of the local comic book shops yesterday to discover the exclusive Randy Bowen Modok statue has sold out.  One less villain to add to the office decor.

Today, we took in Toronto's annual Woofstock festival with two of my four dogs.  Since Jelly has a hard time getting around due to her bad hips, and because Bubba is generally high-strung and anti-social in crowds, we elected to take Lulu and Maximus out for the day…

Akemi rarin' to go.

Lulu wonders "Where's the party at?"

Maximus. Totemo hansamu!

Dogs in silly outfits…

GO CANUCKS!!!

Dogs in strollers…

Pitbulls doing their best Hannibal Lecter…

And various sights…

Maximus - ten minutes in and he's already tired.

Cooling off on a hot day.

Lulu tests out the custom dog furniture on display.

Testing...

...testing...

Maximus helps.

Lulu sucks up for attention.

Check out that tongue! I think this pug is half frog.

Lulu cools off.

Akemi makes a new friend.

The St. Ignatius Pug Choir

Maximus wonders: "How much longer?".

Bored!

Stewie!

Meet 'n Greet!

Maximus is DONE!

Today's blog entry is dedicated to blog regular Lisa R.'s husband.  Well, she's the regular.  Anyway.  Good luck!

And GO MAVS!

Mailbag:

squishy writes: "

In Ripple Effect (one of my favorite episodes!) when the 'bad' SG1 team is leaving, the bad Mitchell turns around before the Stargate puddle and says to the 'good' Mitchell: 'When the time comes, cut the green one'. Enlighten me please?"

Answer: Among the notes I received on the script's first draft from my fellow writer-producers was a suggestion from Damian Kindler that alt. Mitchell should throw out a cryptic line like: "When the times comes, cut the green one.".  I loved the idea and put it in the script.  It wasn't a set-up to any specific pay-off but, having said that, it was something we certainly could have touched on had the show gone another season.

dasndanger writes: "I've been meaning to ask how your mom and sister are these days. Are they glad to have you closer to home?"

Answer: They're all fine.  I'll be seeing them this Christmas, provided they don't come up to visit me earlier.

fsmn36 writes: "I wondered about your thoughts on Marvel as a great comic book connoisseur. What were your favorite issues of X-Men (I figure you must have read some at one point)? Did you read the ones written by Joss Whedon? And ultimately…DC or Marvel?"

Answer: My passion for comic books ebbs and flows.  I'll pick up every title out there, then start dropping them as I lose interest.  Eventually, I'll drop the last one and go months without buying anything – then go out one day, pick up every title out there, and start over again.  My favorite X-Men were the new incarnation introduced in Uncanny X-Men #94/Giant Size X-Men #1 (well, "new" back then).  My favorite issues = #132-137, the end of the Hellfire Club storyline and the Dark Phoenix saga.  Haven't checked out Astonishing X-Men yet but have eyed the omnibus.  Recommended?  DC or Marvel?  Depends on who's writing.  TPB I'm reading now: Chew (Image), The Walking Dead (Image), Scalped (Vertigo), DMZ (Vertigo), Sweet Tooth (Vertigo), Secret Six (DC).

@iom666 writes: "How about cats ? Did you ever have a cat ? What do you think of 'them' ? "

Answer: I've had cats and love 'em as well.

Patricia-Stewart Bertrand writes: "My sister's dogs are terrified of rain, and thunder and spiders and cats. They are two very large and friendly Border Collies. Any suggestions to help them conquer their fears?"

Answer: Just sit with them, pet them, reassure them.  Having the t.v. on helps as well.

Sebastian Meyer writes: "So you write /block the chase and stunt sequences yourself as the episode's writer? Not all shows do that. How detailed do you get and did you do the same on Stargate?"

Answer: When writing a script, we do try to craft creative action sequences that will serve as a launch point for our stunt coordinators.  Realistically, they're only guidelines because, when the time comes, what can or can't be done will be entirely location dependent.  On Transporter: The Series, for instance, fight coordinator Cyril Raffaelli and car stunt coordinator Michel Julienne will no doubt use the scripted sequences as inspiration, but won't be beholden to what's on the page.  So why do we write them into the script?  Well, they do offer some insight into what we are expecting in terms of action.  Also, some people who read scripts have a hard time imagining "the good version".  If I was to simply write "a car chase ensues and Frank gets away" the response I would no doubt receive would be something alone the lines of: "BOOOORING!  Can't we come up with something better?".

Randomness writes: "Have you had a chance to watch Spice and Wolf yet?"

Answer: Not yet.  Season one is sitting in my DVD room back in Vancouver.

Randomness also writes: "Also how are your Japanese skills coming along?"

Answer: Last night, Akemi and I went out to eat.  Over the course of our meal, we conversed in Japanese.  Our waiter marveled at my command of the language. I told him I only sounded proficient because he didn't understand Japanese.  I possess the verbal skills of a very polite four year old Japanese boy.

Randomness also writes: "Code Geass has 2 movies in Japan on DVD/Blu Ray, they basically cover Season 1 and 2, and have some new footage here and there, they're Japanese only with no subtitles, but if you want to watch Code Geass abridged, its something you might want to pick up from Japan next to you go Joe."

Answer: One of Akemi's favorites.  Already watched!

Randomness also writes: "And lastly any plans to get Chris Vance to do a blog appearance?"

Answer: Would love to have him come by and do a Q&A but, realistically, I don't think he'll have the time.  He's going to be VERY busy.

chupeto writes: "Are the people who made the Ascension (like Alterans, or like the people of Abydos) called : "The Others" or "The Ancients" ?"

Answer: Sorry, I don't understand the question.  If you're asking whether all Ascended beings are Ancients, the answer is no.

paloosa writes: "So starting Monday, I'm headed to the Death Valley of the Valley…Woodland Hills. No studios nor even production companies. Despite the name, the Warner Center is just a bunch of boring corporate industrial buildings. I'm happy to still have a job, but it's three times the mileage, cost and time. And over 100 degrees most of the summer."

Answer: We're following parallel paths!  Good luck!

Tagged: Dogs, dogs eating ice cream, french bulldogs, Ivon Bartok, pugs, pugs eating ice cream, Woofstock

June 11, 2011: Screenwriter James Moran Drops By To Discuss Cockneys, Zombies, Stabby-Arm Aliens, and Girl Number 9!

James Moran's list of credits include Torchwood, Spooks, Dr. Who, Girl Number 9 (premiering on FEARnet this week), Cockneys vs Zombies (presently in post-production), and now, no doubt the crowning achievement of his writing career: his reader Q&A for this blog!

Check out what he has to say, then check out his blog (the pen is mightier than the spork), THEN check out Girl Number 9: "FEARnet will air the first two episodes on Tuesday, June 14th, and then release one episode per day on Wednesday and Thursday, with the two concluding suspense-filled episodes airing Friday, June 17th.  After the initial airing onFEARnet.com, Girl Number 9 will be available at a later date on the FEARnet On-Demand network and FEARnet's emerging cable channel."

A huge thanks to James for taking the time…

Star Fire writes: "Questions for James Moran: 1. What can you tell us about your experience working on Dr. Who and Torchwood? How did the opportunity to work on both shows come about? How did the experience between them differ? Did you prefer one over the other and why?"

JM: I wrote a horror comedy movie called Severance, which came out in 2006, and did quite well. Off the back of that and another, unproduced movie script I got a meeting with the Torchwood producer and script editor. That went well, I was invited to pitch some episode ideas, and that became Sleeper from season 2 (the stabby-arm aliens). After that I was offered a Doctor Who episode, and the rest went from there. They're both quite similar, in that they're big, exciting shows run (at the time) by many of the same people, but Doctor Who had the weight of history and expectation behind it, making it even more tricky (despite being a lifelong fan of it). I loved both experiences, and couldn't choose between them.

"2. Cockneys versus Zombies is pretty self-explanatory, but could you tell us a ittle bit about Girl Number 9. What's it about and how did it come together? Given your experience, do you think web-based productions are something that will catch on quickly, or are they something that will take some time to win an audience?"

JM: The police have finally caught a notorious serial killer, but the evidence turns out to be completely circumstantial – if they can't get a confession, they might have to let him go. And then things go horribly, horribly wrong… That's the setup, it has lots of twists after that. It came together when me and Dan Turner, who directed eps 1-3, wanted to make something without waiting for permission or funding etc etc, we just wanted to get on with it. The tricky thing about web stuff is the random nature – sometimes a series will hit big, sometimes it will vanish without a trace. You just never know! So while I think there are a lot of great series out there, it's never a sure bet, your show could just get lost in the sea of other stuff. When we finished Girl Number 9, we took it to a web distributor, which sounds like an odd thing – surely you can just put it on the web yourself?? But it actually makes sense. They team up with places that are known for web stuff, with lots of viewers, so your work has more chance of being seen. I think people are slowly realising that web shows are just another cool thing they can watch, they're not going to "take over from TV", as some producers are fond of saying. Web shows have already caught on, but the people who fund these things are still a bit hesitant to get involved.

3. Even those it's pretty self-explanatory, dish. What can you reveal about Cockneys versus Zombies? Thanks"

JM: When builders unearth a centuries old plague pit, they accidentally unleash a zombie outbreak in the East End. We've got Michelle Ryan, Harry Treadaway, Honor Blackman, Alan Ford (Brick Top from Snatch), and loads of other brilliant actors. It's very funny, silly, but clever too, and will hopefully surprise people. We've all seen a lot of zombie movies, so I tried to make sure there were several zombie moments that you've never seen before. And I don't want to spoil any of it, so that's all I can really say!

TimC writes: "Mr. Moran – Do you have a preference between film and television. What, in your experience, are the high and low points of both fields?"

JM: Film: High points – bigger budgets, bigger scope, chance to reach more people and tell bigger stories. Low points – they can take ages to set up, writers are usually low on the totem pole, and so many things can go wrong before, during and after filming.

TV: High points – more time to tell your stories, explore characters in more depth, writers are considered quite important to the process. Low points – the relentless worry of "what channel is it for" and "what audience demographic is it for", which really doesn't matter in today's DVR/PVR-based world. I don't know or care what channel a show is on, I like shows, not channels.

Preference: I love them both, and both have occasionally kicked me in the face, so no preference. Whatever I'm working on at the time, usually.

"I see that you're still blogging despite the ugliness surrounding the whole Lanto controversy. What would you say you have taken away or learned from the experience?"

JM: To make sure I set boundaries and limits, and don't get too involved. I took a break from blogging and reassessed why I do it and what it's for. When I came back, comments on the blog were turned off, as it was turning into a very narrow focus group. I'd been worrying about making sure everyone was happy, which stifles you creatively, you have to just try and tell a good story without trying to please everyone, that's impossible. Hopefully, if you tell a story that you like, then lots of others will like it too. Weirdly, I now have more of an online presence, with the blog, Twitter, and an official Facebook page, but it's all on my own terms – the FB page is because I want to keep my personal page private, I don't have to reply to everyone on Twitter (and would never have the time anyway), and blog comments are off to stop me overanalysing everything. Biggest thing I've learned is this: sometimes, Moran, you need to just shut up and not reply… Although I don't always remember that.

KellyK writes: "Hello James.  Some questions – 1. Could you tell us a little about your journey to becoming a professional writer. Is it something you always wanted to do? Did you always see yourself working in film and television?"

JM: Always wanted to be a writer, but never imagined it would actually be possible. I thought that was for important, clever people who lived in Hollywood or something. Been writing stories since I was 3, discovered the script format at college, kept writing stuff and trying to get better. Still never thought it would happen though. Years and years of hard work later, won a short film script competition, which gave me the confidence to approach agents with more scripts. Got an agent, wrote Severance (over a year, evenings and weekends while working a full time dayjob where I had to type all day too), sold it, and was on my way. Never thought I'd get into film and TV, growing up I thought I'd *maybe* write books in my spare time one day. I have never written a book and have no intention of doing so…

"2. Can you tell us about your writing process? Are you, like most writers, ON 24/7, constantly working on that latest project? And how do you unwind between projects?"

JM: I used to avoid a routine, because I hated being in a routine for so many years at dayjobs, but now I've fallen into one that sort of works – get up as early as I can, coffee and breakfast, surf the web, email, Twitter, check blogs, faff around, until I feel so guilty I can't stop myself from starting work. Then I just keep going, once I've started, until the end of the day or until I'm exhausted, usually around 6 or 7pm. Once I'm on a roll, it's best to keep going with it. Okay, that's not much of a routine, but it is for me.

And yes, I'm always "on", can't help it. I've learned that I *need* a hobby or distraction from writing/thinking about writing. Before I broke in, writing was my hobby, and I had a dayjob. Now that writing is my job, I can't stop myself thinking about it even when I'm supposed to be relaxing. If you're halfway through a script, you can't just turn off your brain – you keep worrying about it, trying to solve problems, etc. At the moment, videogames, comics, TV, movies, and non-fiction books keep me sane. I haven't been able to read prose fiction for a couple of years now, weirdly, I'm too aware that it's been made up by someone and I start analysing it. I've heard the same from several other writers, and it's a shame, because I used to read several novels a week.

Oh, and there is never any "between projects", one thing ends, but you're usually in the middle of something else, then something new starts soon after that, it's a constant cycle of keeping your career going. Unless you're on a long running show which ends, in which case, you are able to take a break if you want. But I haven't got my own show off the ground yet. Fingers crossed that'll happen soon.

"3. Were you a fan of Dr. Who before writing for the show? And, if you're willing to say, who is your favorite Dr.?"

JM: Absolutely, I've been watching it since before I can remember, I grew up on it. Favourite Doctor was and always will be Tom Baker, who is *actually* an alien in real life.

Joanie C. writes: "Could I ask James Moran a question?"

JM:  NO! Oh, okay then.

"I love Spooks, and am a long time Doctor Who fan. Would James be willing to say who his favourite Doctor is?"

JM: See above!

"And is he the one responsible for that horrific scene in the first series – where the girl's head was shoved into the deep fryer? If so, both shame on him, and congrats…it was such an outrageously horrific scene, I still have nightmares about it. The sign of truly great writing."

JM: Oh, I *wish* I'd written that. No, I'm responsible for a different horrific scene, I wrote season 7 episode 7, where SpoilerPerson is revealed as the mole, and cuts the throat of OtherSpoilerPerson, killing them. I'm glad I got to be part of the Spooks tradition of killing someone in a shocking way, I'm really pleased with how that episode worked out. Spooks is an incredibly hard show to write for, because it's so clever and complicated, it's very easy to get lost in your own plotlines – who knows what, and when, and all the double, triple, and quadruple bluffs that spies get up to.

Lou Zucaro writes: "Question for James Moran: When you're writing a single episode of a series that has such a rich mythology (Doctor Who's 'The Fires of Pompeii') and you have to include references to things that have come before and will come later on, how much more difficult does that make your job as a writer? Who tells you what you have to include? Do they tell you why?"

JM: My episode was very early in the season, so I didn't have to have much included from before and after. I snuck in a few references to things like City of Death (one of my favourite Tom Baker stories) and The Romans (because William Hartnell is cool, and the joke amused me), but the mysterious story arc stuff ("she is returning" etc) was put in by Russell after I'd finished. They're very good at keeping stuff secret, they have to be.

The hardest one was Spooks, as mentioned above, because you have to make sure you don't do anything they've already done (and they've done EVERYTHING), *and* fit into the serial arc which they (and you) are making up as they go along and is insanely complicated, *and* make sure it has 857 twists and turns, *and* make sure none of those twists contradict the other twists, or the serial arc which just changed again, or the previous 7 seasons… Oh, and I had 6 weeks between getting hired and the first day of filming the episode. Yeah. But that's why I love TV, it throws impossible things at you, and you haven't got time to sit around and second guess yourself, you have to just get on with it.

Don Matthews writes: "oh and a question for James Moran: I have noticed certain often repeated story elements over the last few years. The Doctor dies and then we see him from another time still alive with the implication that he will die because he already did sorta. They've gone to that well more than a few times. Then there's the Doctor scares off the bad guy by sheer force of personality, which is okay if you don't overuse it but before long it starts to feel kinda Deux Ex Machina. Do you think Dr Who lends itself to more arbitrary story resolutions just by the chaotic nature of the Doctor himself?"

JM: The Doctor always makes it up as he goes along, except when he secretly knew everything that would happen in advance… But yes, I think that he would hate to have any kind of routine, so always tries to keep things fresh, hence the last minute plans that have a tendency to go wrong, and his recent delight at discovering a new feeling (even though it was the result of something really dangerous happening). And the personality thing *isn't* a Deus Ex Machina solution, he really has done all the stuff he says he has, and is known and feared all over the universe – sometimes, when a plan goes wrong, you just have to bluff. As for the timey wimey stuff, if you have a show involving time travel, and you *don't* play around with that, then you're missing a trick, really.

AvidReader writes: "If you could be any supervillain, who would you be?"

JM: Magneto. There are a *lot* of things I could achieve with his power. And yes, it worries me that I've already started planning, just in case I ever mutate.

EmilyFitz writes: "Color me intrigued.  What can you tell us about Cockneys vs. Zombies?  How did the idea for the script come to you?  What hoops did you have to jump through to get the movie made?  It seems like zombies are the new vampires.  Next year, what do you predict the new zombies will be?"

JM: See question near the top for plot stuff. The director had the idea a couple of years ago, and I was hired to write it. Not sure what hoops were required, as I came on board after the producers and distributor were already involved, so only had to worry about writing it. As for next year's new zombies?? Rabid chickens. I don't know, but judging by the amount of stuff in production, next year's new zombies will still be zombies. I'm hoping vampires come back again, but as proper, scary monsters again, and not sparkly, harmless underwear models. The ONLY people allowed to sparkle are dead Jedi.

Danforth writes: "Hi, James.  Thank you for visiting and taking questions.  What I'd like to know is – Do you have a favorite between science fiction and horror genres?  If you were given the chance to run any show on television, what would it be and why?  And in what direction would you take the show?"

JM: My favourite is the one I'm writing at the time. Or, if I get stuck, the *next* one, because it's bound to be easier than *this* one. That's not a joke, I love them both. Showrunning: I usually prefer watching things that I enjoy, if I took them over it'd ruin all the surprises. Although I'd love to play with Doctor Who for a while, several years from now when I'm more experienced. Where I took it would depend on where it was before I took over. But there'd probably be lots of explosions.

FullSheet writes: "What advice would you give young aspiring writers looking to break in television or movies?  What was the magic formula you used?"

JM: Read a lot of scripts, write a lot of scripts, rewrite them over and over. There really is no magic formula, just lots of hard work and persistence. The more you write, and rewrite, the better you get. There are no shortcuts, tricks, secret doors, you have to work on your writing. After that, it's really easy, all you have to do is write a brilliant script that everyone wants to make… I have lots more advice than that, which I've put on my blog in a handy FAQ post which will probably take you about a week to read. But it's all there (based on the UK writing world, obviously).

The Inquisitor: "I'm interested in the process of setting up a web-series.  Is it all that different from producing a t.v. show?"

JM: Yes. Unless you have a sponsor or financier, you have to pay for it all yourself, and probably do everything yourself too. You have to convince people to work for little or no money, then borrow, hire, or buy equipment and figure out how to use it. Then you have to try and get people to watch, using Twitter, Facebook and blogs to promote it. It's a lot of work and financial trouble with no guarantee of anything. But it can be a lot of fun, and is a good way to get your stuff out there and noticed. The big advantage is that you're in charge, you own it, and can do whatever you want. Hardest part, though, is getting people to see it. You might go viral and get millions of viewers and a sweet deal with a TV or movie company. You might get 15 hits and disappear without trace. It can be quite random like that, but then it's the same with anything creative, really. Make sure you have a decent paying job while you do the web thing, and don't expect anything in return. Treat it like spending money in Vegas – don't bring anything that you can't afford to lose…

Tagged: Cockneys Vs. Zombies, Girl Number 9, James Moran

June 10, 2011: Assuming bento duties! Dog pics!

Akemi took the day off so I was left to craft my own inspired oatmeal/fruit/peanut butter masterpiece.  Pretty impressive, huh?  Akemi took one look at it and made me promise I wouldn't try to pass it off as one of her bento creations.  Personally, I think she was just jealous.

Long overdue gratuitous dog pics…

Jelly sleeps. HARD!

Jelly, undercover babushka.

Lulu dares you to take her toy.

Bubba and pal take their afternoon siesta.

Lulu and Maximus in "Two on a Bed".

One third of the way through the rewrite of my second script for Transporter: The Series, working out the moves for the big parkade sequence.  Also, checked out the slew of stills from the second unit shoot in Berlin.  They look awesome.  Looking forward to checking out the dailies next week.

An early blog entry today as I head home to take Bubba to the vet, his second visit this week.  Not sure what's up but he's not his usual excitable, tail-waggy, barksome self.  Lately, he's been very quiet, very lethargic, won't negotiate stairs or jump up onto the couch, and has been an incredibly slow walker.  X-rays and blood tests turned up nothing unusual.

'Sup, Bub?

Today's entry is dedicated to blog regular Das!

June 9, 2011: Oatmeal Snowman! Trevor screws up my page count! Stargate: SG-1 season 9! News of note!

Akemi's latest breakfast bento creation: oatmeal snowman!

This morning, we checked out a new place, a cozy little apartment in the ritzy Yorkville district.  Pros: Upscale neighborhood, better oven, located close to gourmet shop Pusateri, and the woman who showed us the suite was gorgeous – but, in all fairness, I failed to inquire if she came with the place.  Cons: Longer drive to work, longer walk to the dog park, more traffic outside, father away from St. Lawrence Market, downtown restaurants, vet, doggy daycare, and Martin Gero.  Tough call but I have a feeling we're staying put.  Akemi doesn't like the cutlery in the new place.

In the words of little Ralphie from A Christmas Story: "Oooh fuuuudge!  Only I didn't say 'fudge"."  After I incorporated all of the notes for the last draft of episode 3 of Transporter: The Series, the script came in at a weighty and wholly uproducable 60+ pages.  Sadly, since I'm prohibited from redirecting funds earmarked for frivolous expenditures (ie. my fellow Exec. Producers' salaries, first aid supplies, etc.) toward overages, I had to make some trims to get the page count down. Following days of careful consideration and judicious cuts, I succeeded in bringing the script down to a much more manageable 52 pages.  Pleased, my work on episode #3 presumably complete for the time being, I redirected focus to my rewrite of episode #6.

Until Trevor, our assistant, noted a problem with my script format – specifically, the fact that my default format settings were incorrect.  Trevor corrected them. And in so doing, my 52 page script (formerly 60+ pages long) ballooned to 57 pages (formerly a hell of a lot longer).  Sigh!  So my first attempt to fix the problem – a.k.a. firing Trevor – while personally satisfying, did little to help address the page count.  In the end, I spent another two hours making the proper trims that brought the script down to 53 glorious pages.

On to production!

And a new assistant!

Thank you to those who pointed out my error in mistaking SG-1 season 9′s Beach Head for season 10′s The Pegasus Project.  I will rectify this oversight in the following weeks by switching it around and mistaking The Pegasus Project for Beach Head.

PROTOTYPE (909)

Alan McCullough scripts his first Stargate episode and, based on his efforts here, is invited to join the writing staff.  He'll spend two seasons on SG-1 and four on Atlantis, working his way up to Supervising Producer, displaying not only good story sense but a real affinity for the editing room as well.  A great guy and much-appreciated member of the raucous writing room of Carl Binder, Marty G., Paul, and myself that produced Atlantis's final two seasons.

This episode also marked the first appearance of actor Neil Jackson who would turn in an equally brilliant performance as the undercover wraith in Stargate: Atlantis's fifth season episode, Vegas.

THE FOURTH HORSEMAN I (910)

When we broke this mid-season two-parter, we fully expected to have actor Sean Patrick Flannery reprise the role of Orlin.  Unfortunately, it turned out he was unavailable for both episodes.  As a result, we were forced to rethink his character's role in the story.  In retrospect, it was different but "good" different, offering up some terrific opportunities for both the Orlin character and Samantha Carter.  The part ended up being played by Cameron Bright who has gone on to play the role of Alec in the Twilight Saga.

It was great to have Don S. Davis back as General George Hammond.  I appreciated the fact that, even though he'd shifted focus to his art and enjoying his retirement, Don still found time to revisit with us.  Like most of my friends, we wound up connecting over our mutual appreciation for food and spent many an evening out on the town, bonding over everything from ribs to foie gras.

THE FOURTH HORSEMAN II (911)

In this episode, Earth officials attempt to contain an alien virus that spreads from Stargate Command to the United States, then North America and, eventually, the rest of the world.  And reporting on the breaking news are – well, news anchors and reporters.  And who better to play news and anchors and reporters then actual anchors and reporters.  Surprisingly, it happens all the time in film and television.  We auditioned a bunch of them and, quite frankly, they were all great, but ended up going with local television personalities Dawn Chubai and Dagmar Midcap.

The part of the Jaffa Aron is played by Chris Judge's brother, Jeff, who I was a long-time regular at Chris's notorious poker nights.

COLLATERAL DAMAGE (912)

I loved this episode and, as much as I'd like to lay some claim to it, this was all Paul, my writing partner (I was busy working on the next episode, Ripple Effect). One of the things I loved about working on Stargate was the freedom it gave us as writers.  We could tell a variety of stories – standalone, arc-driven, Earth-based, set off-world, SF, fantasy, horror, comedic, or dark.  In the case of Collateral Damage – standalone, off-world, SF, and dark, and it does all four incredibly well.

In the original pitch, it's Teal'c who ends up imprisoned on an alien world, charged with a crime he didn't commit despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.  Given Teal'c's existing arc that season, we elected to make it a Mitchell story as it allowed us the opportunity explore his past.

The part of the doomed victim in this episode, Dr. Reya Varrick, is played by the lovely Anna Galvin who is one of a handful of actors who have appeared in all three Stargate series – as the mysterious Vanessa Conrad in one of my fave Atlantis episodes, Remnants, and then as Chloe Armstrong's mother in Stargate: Universe.

How did I miss this?!  Past Book of the Month Club guest author Daryl Gregory is writing a new Planet of the Apes series for BOOM! Studios, one of my favorite new comic book publishers: http://www.darylgregory.com/comics/apes.aspx

Hey, fellow foodies, check it out!  Interview with my friend and fave chef Robert Belcham of Fuel/Refuel fame here: http://vancouverfoodster.com/2011/06/08/chef-robert-belcham/ - in which he makes mention of the unbelievable 30 course dinner he prepared for me before I left Vancouver (March 18, 2011: The Meal To End All Meals!).

Via Io9 – A site that uses facial recognition software to pair you up with the dog of your dreams.  My perfect match is apparently a beagle mix named Olly: http://www.doggelganger.co.nz/

Tagged: Boom Studios, Daryl Gregory, Planet of the Apes, ReFuel, Robert Belcham, SG-1, Stargate, Stargate: SG-1, Transporter: The Series

June 8, 2011: Marty G. rejoins this blog as a series regular! Your herbal top 5! Stargate: SG-1′s ninth season!

Hey!  Look who it is!  No, not Joaquin Phoenix.  It's Martin Gero (Stargate: Atlantis, Bored To Death) who is in Toronto to Executive Produce his new show (which I'm calling Untitled Martin Gero Project or UMGP).  We met up Sunday night for chat, laughs, and this odd cocktail containing pimms, gin, lemonade, ginger beer, and cucumber.  Then, we met up again last night for more chat, laughs, and octopus.  Given the fact that we're both fellow foodies, our dinner conversation tends to be atypical of most guys.  For instance, instead of discussing the NBA finals or Stanley Cup playoffs, the topic of discussion turned to matters of far greater import – specifically, our favorite herbs.

Martin put basil at #1 and, as much as I like basil (it's a solid #3 in my books), nothing comes close to my #1.  And #2 is a bit of a dark horse, admittedly, but I really feel people should give it a try.

My Top 5 Herbs in ascending order:

#5: SAGE

A little strong, granted, but it works really well, fried crisp, with chicken or veal saltimboca.

#4: ROSEMARY

Also possessed of a very pronounced flavor.  A little goes a long way.  But terrific with roasted chicken and potatoes.

#3: BASIL

There's nothing like fresh basil in tomato sauce, on pizza. pasta, or buffalo mozzarella.

#2: TARRAGON

Why doesn't this herb get more love?  Great with chicken and fish, it marries perfectly with butter, imparting it with a delicate sweetness.

#1: THYME

Goes well with everything – chicken, beef, pork, lamb, fish, carrots, potatoes.  I even like it in my chocolate!

Looking back on SG-1′s ninth season, I think it and the proceeding season were the most creatively satisfying years for me on the franchise.  Writing for the combined talents of Amanda Tapping, Michael Shanks, Christopher Judge, Ben Browder, Claudia Black, and Beau Bridges was easily the most fun than I've ever had on a show.  I guess it should come as no surprise that fully half of the episodes that made My Top 10 Favorite Stargate Episodes list came from the show's ninth and tenth seasons: August 15, 2010: MY Top 10 Favorite Stargate Episodes

THE POWERS THAT BE (905)

Martin Gero's first script for Stargate: SG-1 offers a peek at Vala's dark past, her potentially bright future, and her very colorful present.  This episode was actually made up of two different pitches: one about Vala returning to scam a world she once ruled as Qetesh, another involving the healing device and the dilemma it presented.  The latter was a notion I'd pitched out but was going nowhere until we started talking about the first story and realized it made sense to marry the two. As with most every episode, that's the way it worked on Stargate.  Despite the onscreen credit, everyone in the writers' room participated in the creation of each story – discussing the initial pitch, spinning some ideas, beating out the story, structuring the narrative, and providing notes on the outline(s) and various drafts. If we were going to be precious about our individual ideas, then longtime Executive Producer Robert Cooper (the master spinner) could have easily laid a co-story credit claim to fully 90% of all episodes produced.

BEACH HEAD (906)

Although Exec. Producer Brad Wright had his hands full with Atlantis, he took the time out to write this episode of SG-1, a big crossover event that quickly became a fan favorite.  At one point in the episode, Mitchell pulls out a lemon and shows it to McKay in an attempt to keep the high-strung Rodney in check (Actually, now that I think of it, I remember seeing it in dailies but don't recall if it made the final cut).  McKay's citrus allergy was a long-standing in-joke, a reference to a member of the production team early in SG-1′s run who, every time they'd go out to lunch, would insist he was violently allergic to citrus.  "One drop could kill me!".  This despite the fact that, unbeknownst to him, most every salad he ordered at the local restaurant did, in fact, contains citrus.

EX DEUS MACHINA (907)

While we were spinning this story about Baal hiding out on Earth, I suggested he could be working in a garage under an assumed identity, thus giving us the opportunity to title the episode Deus Ex Mechanic.  Paul pointed out that, given the fact Baal was an ex goa'uld "god", an even more appropriate title would be Ex Deus Machina.  Well, when we finished breaking the story, the mechanic idea was out the window, so we settled with Ex Deus Machina.  One of my very favorite titles – made all the greater by those outraged fans who called us out for such an obvious mistake!

This episode also gave us the opportunity see my favorite System Lord, Baal – played to deliciously evil perfection by actor Cliff Simon – take his overlord act to the environs of planet Earth.  And, best of all, dress the part!

BABYLON (908)

Director Peter DeLuise had long lobbied to have actor Tony Todd (Candyman) on the show and, finally, the perfect opportunity/role presented itself in this episode in the form of Haikon, the leader of the Sodan.  Tony's was one of many great performances in this episode, but special mention goes to Ben Browder who went all out, even performing some of his own stunts – with bruising results.  He went all out – so much so that, after watching one alarming set of dailies, the producers made the executive decision to revoke the lionshare of Ben's stunting privileges!

 

Tagged: Stargate, Stargate: SG-1

June 7, 2011: Breakfast! Nightmares! And mailbag!

Today's breakfast, compliments of Akemi.  In my Happy Panda bentox box = a happy panda fashioned out of steelcut Irish oatmeal and nutella.  Also includes various fruit and one of the nutella mini-cupcakes Dede made yesterday -

The other night, she texted me a picture of the above.  I texted her back.  Although I wrote "Oooooo!", for some reason, my iPhone's auto-correct changed by response to "Poopy!" Needless to say, I scrambled to correct the auto-correct.  Reminds me of the time I was supposed to meet Ivon for lunch only to discover our first choice, Chronic Tacos, closed.  So, I suggested Romer's Burger Bar instead:

Hmmmm.  Chronic Tacos is closed.  Timers?

Toners?

Romers?

Ficking auto correct.

Fucking!

Anyway, it wasn't until some twenty minutes after I'd finished my breakfast that I noticed the Happy Panda bento box contained a hidden compartment.

What treasures lie within?

Another nutella cupcake!  And pepto bismol!!

All sorts of weird dog-related dreams of late.  The other night, I dreamt that I was informed I did not, in fact, own my pug, Jelly – that she was actually a dog actor I had mistakenly picked up off some set and now her original trainer wanted her back.  Then, Maximus and Bubba were eaten by sharks.  And finally, last night, I dreamt  I was back in Montreal checking on my neighbor's old, decrepit house.  My walkthrough complete, I hit the remote to close the garage door.  It groaned and squeaked as it slowly came down behind me but, as I turned to head back down the driveway, I heard it groan and squeak again as it slowly rose back up. Curious, I approached to see whether something was interfering with the door – when Jelly raced by me and started barking at something.  As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I spotted it, right next to the garage door opener: a person standing on a chair, perfectly still, his face obscured by the garden pail covering his face. Which is about when I woke up.  Freaky – and a perfect image for my future horror flick!

Mailbag:

Debra writes: "I didn't say all the women, but the strong kick butt woman you wrote was intended to be lesbian."

Answer: Actually, no.  The two kick-butt female members of the team in Whispers – Major Teldy and Dusty – weren't.  Vega may have been, but it was never canon.  SGU's Camile Wray was gay and, I thought, a character with a lot of depth and strength.

Debra also writes: "T.J… puleeeze… she was not strong, screwing a married man, let him force her to return to the ship, etc. I don't see her as strong. She coped, she survived, but she was not what I call strong."

Answer: There are two sides to the coin.  One could argue that Young was just as weak for having the affair.  Also, one of the aspects of the T.J. character I liked a lot were her strength as displayed in episodes like Water and Divided – which is why I enjoyed seeing her demonstrate the resolve and toughness in The Hunt.

Debra also writes: "Carter…Again, after the first few seasons she certainly got strong. But the fawning "sir" crap…and the indecision over men."

Answer: Not sure what the fawning "sir" crap refers to.  As her commanding officer, she would refer to him as "sir".  I saw no fawning.  Indecisive?  Besides the relationship with Pete, I didn't see any other instances.  And even then – so what?  People (men and women) are indecisive.  Given the show ran for ten years, why not explore Sam's personal life?  We did so with Teal'c and Daniel after all.

Debra also writes: "Vala is one of my fave characters, and I enjoy her "out there" ness. But a lot of that is the actress. "

Answer: No, actually – it may surprise you to learn that, while Claudia was fantastic, her character was scripted.  All those funny lines were written, not improvised.

Bryan M. White writes: "What has Rob been up to lately?"

Answer: In addition to his work on Transporter: The Series, Rob Cooper is busy on a host of other exciting projects.  Once he gives me the green light, I'll tell you about them.

Elliott writes: "

Some questions: 1.) Is it still technically a pilot episode if a full season has already been ordered?"

Answer: It was the series pilot prior to the show being ordered so, internally, we're still calling it "The pilot episode".

"2.) Why is "Dark Matter" called "Dark Matter"? What is the significance of the title? It's probably a spoiler… "

Answer: Yep.  Spoiler.  All will be revealed January of 2012.  Well, maybe not all – but a lot.

"3.) How come in "Divided" Rush can transfer control of the ship away from the control interface room remotely, and yet Telford has to do it from the gate room in "Incursion"?"

Answer: To avoid a scenario similar to the one in Divided, Young put safeguards in place to ensure it wouldn't be so easy.  Of course, Rush may have foreseen the implementation of said safeguards and hidden a workaround program in the event the opportunity presented itself.

"4.) What scholarship did Greer apply for, but not get?"

Answer: Sorry, don't recall.

"5.) Why did you pick Greer shooting a spider as the reason for the tunnel collapsing in "Human"? Wouldn't it have been more realistic and a little less… "silly" if the tunnel had already been unstable and it just collapsed on them?"

Answer: But there had to be a reason for the tunnel to collapse otherwise it would have felt contrived for the ceiling to suddenly, and conveniently, come down.

June 6, 2011: Our first Transporter: The Series field trip! Mailbag!

We spent much of today driving around the city, checking potential locations for the pilot episode of Transporter: The Series.  Pictured above is my brilliant solution to the scene in which our hero, Frank, evades the bad guys by blending into the background.  Yes, a closer look at the photo will reveal that only the ballerina is part of the wall mural.  My contribution is a live element!

Anyway, our field trip in pictures…

This spot would've been perfect if not for the incessant hum of the hotel's massive air conditioning unit. It would provided we could shut the AC down for three hours or so in July. I'm sure the hotel guests won't mind.

Production Designer Tim Bider snaps some pics, presumably for HIS blog!

Suite - famous for being trashed by some Hollywood douchebag.

Alexander relaxes in what, a month from now, will be an upscale shop.

Potential getaway sequence location? Alex says yes!

Stairs leading down to the basement of doom.

The legends were true! We discover the ancient bee burial ground.

Tim, a standing member of the Loyal Order of Crocodiles, sports his club hat. A terrific conversation-starter at most bars.

Some of the, uh, interesting stained glass work on display…

That kid in the front is one evil-looking bastard.

Because science and learning is to be feared.

Nordic Hansel and Gretel. Check out Gretel's celebratory fist pump. Ka-ching!

A young Ludwig Von Beethoven goes skiing with his dad.

Clearly, this stained glass work dates as far back as the turn of the century. The 21st century.

We stop for lunch at a little Italian place off Queen Street West called Pizzeria Libretto where we enjoy four different pizzas. Alex, Anna, and I vote the sausage with caramelized onions our Pizza Pick of the Day!

Paul and Alexander - their vivacity is almost infectious!

Tim Owen informs me that, as much as I loved the pizzeria, there are no plans to use it for a future location shoot.

This parkade has a lot of character (a.k.a. I can really see someone being murdered here).

1st AD Tim Singh seconds before being snatched by one of the neighborhood's giant snow owls.

Mailbag:

Bryan M. White writes: "Love the Galaxy Quest reference!!!"

Answer: That was Ben's inspired suggestion.  He ran it by me after reading the script and I loved it!

Randomness writes: "For me, seeing Mitchell prior to Season 9, if only randomly, or in passing would of been better, however budget I would imagine, and a reason for him to be there would of been I guess hard."

Answer: It wasn't so much a budgetary constraint as it was the simple fact that we didn't know who we would be bringing in to replace O'Neill until after season 9 had been shot.

crayonbaby writes: "You'll have to tell us the reasoning behind the 30 bite salad. Do you have to eat them in a certain order to get the full effect? "

Answer: Nope.  Half the fun is in the choosing.

archersangel writes: "i was wondering; did beau bridges went through the usual audition process or what? the same with louis gossett jr. i think of them as "movie actors" & was surprised to see them on tv."

Answer: No.  In the case of both Beau and Lou, they were offered the roles.

Michelle writes: "Do you think it would have been easier for fans to accept Mitchell and Landry if it were clear where Jack was going?"

Answer: Don't know if it would have made much of a difference although, yes, it should have been clear where Jack disappeared to.

Randomness writes: "Did you have a chance to watch Red Faction Origins yet Joe?"

Answer: Nope.

Anaria writes: "Okay, that answers the toilet question about the cargo ships, but what about jumpers? They don't have rings, and sometimes people spend a lot of time in them, for example in 'Midway' after the midway station blows up."

Answer: Oh, that one's easy.  In the case of the jumper, everyone but whoever has to go moves up to the front.  When the person has finished their business, everyone hangs on for dear life and the jumper drops its ramp, exposing the jumper's interior to the vacuum of space, effectively clearing out any refuse (and weak-fingered occupants).

jmanzione writes: "Whoever came up with the Ori did an awesome job."

Answer: Thank you, Robert C. Cooper.

Sov writes: "So I've been wondering, since the stargate was presumably moved to Washington and the focus of the program likely changed more from exploration to research, and since all the bad guys have been done away with, what became of SG1? Carter has a ship, Teal'C is some kind of politician or something, and Daniel hopefully got himself assigned to Atlantis (that seems logical, at least). It seems that there would be no need for a dozen-plus SG teams at this point, so maybe they were whittled down to four or five? Is Cameron Mitchell retired and laying on a beach somewhere? Or maybe he's pushing pencils behind a desk? What fate Cam Mitchell?"

Answer: In my mind, Jack is retired and has settled down with Carter who is head of all off-world-related R&D.  Now that Atlantis has found a home in the Milky Way, Daniel is there, studying its database and exploring hitherto unexplored sections of the Ancient city.  Cam is still leading a team on off-world adventures, a team made up of both Teal'c and Vala who occasionally take time off to oversee the free Jaffa nation and run some off-world scams.

dasNdanger writes: "Speaking of Akemi, Joe, have you ever read David Mack's Kabuki? "

Answer: Have a statue, but haven't read the comic book.

dasNdanger also writes: "Oh! I see in that link that Akemi sounds similar to Alchemy.  Maybe I've answered my own question, but any help you can offer would also be appreciated."

Answer: Yes.  Exactly like "alchemy" without the "l".

maggiemayday writes: "Betcha Akemi has a cute "-chan" nickname. Kemi-chan? Mi-chan?"

Answer: Ake-chan.

dankriss1967 writes: "I think it works out really well as they work as a team and I loved the fact that Carter liked Vala from the start so glad they did not do the 2 women lets have them hate each other routine…phew!"

Answer: I liked the idea of the two being good friends despite their differences, which is why I included a couple of personal little scenes in a couple of episodes (them coming back from an outing in the tease of one episode, them enjoying a glass of wine at the end of another adventure -Family Ties).

Debra writes: "Ever notice when you DO strong women, they are either OUT THERE (like Vala) or lesbians (the all women team… like that is realistic!, and Camile Wray. "

Answer: Why do you assume the all woman team was lesbian?  What about T.J.?  Or Teyla?  Or Carter?  And (re: Vala) what's wrong with a strong woman character being "out there"?

Shiny writes: "How did Akemi make the asparagus? Asparagus is my waterloo; I get beautiful stalks and then end up tossing it in the gravy or just forgetting them in the bottom of the fridge. I've had it made so tasty and zesty, but I don't know how; you steam and then what?"

Answer: I recommend steaming them, then finishing them in a pan with some balsamic vinegar.

June 5, 2011: Akemi's latest masterpiece! Looking back of Stargate: SG-1′s ninth season!

As I said in a previous post, when it comes to preparing a meal, Akemi places as much emphasis on appearance as she does flavor.  Pictured above is one of her latest creations, inspired by the 30 bite salad at Tokyo's Chez Tomo.  Her version is closer to 20 bites but, I'm sure, equally laborious.

On to my memories of Stargate: SG-1′s ninth season…

I was vacationing in Hong Kong when I received an email from Executive Producer Robert Cooper informing me that SciFi was considering picking Stargate: SG-1 up for a ninth season.  The only catch was Richard Dean Anderson's departure left a big hole in the show and the network wanted to know who were planning to bring in to fill it. Well, as far as I was concerned, it was a no-brainer.  "Get Ben Browder,"I emailed back.  I loved Ben Browder's work on Farscape and came away deeply impressed with the guy following our brief meeting at the Saturn awards years earlier.  Turns out Executive Producer Brad Wright and Ben had met at a recent SciFi party and hit it off as well – so the wheels started turning.

By the time I got back from Asia, Ben was all but signed and Robert informed me that they were considering bringing in not one but TWO new characters for the show's ninth season: Ben's character would be joined by Vala Mal Doran played by Claudia Black.  It was going to be a Farscape reunion and I couldn't have been happier.  Unfortunately, the network put the brakes on that idea for exactly the same reason: it was going to be a Farscape reunion.  And so, Ben was signed for that season's full twenty episode run while Claudia was signed for a seven episode arc.  But when those first few episodes delivered, the network quickly changed its mind and requested MORE VALA!  Unfortunately, given the number of scripts already written (or in the process of being written), it wasn't a request we could honor – but we were able to bring her back for two more episodes at season's end.  And, of course, there was always the possibility that in the likely event we got a record-breaking tenth season pick-up (!), she could be back as a regular…

AVALON 1 (901)

One of the things that stood out for me about Ben Browder's first episode was Ben behind the scenes.  While he was great onscreen, he was equally great off-screen as well – passing on R&R in his trailer in favor of staying on set to deliver his off-camera lines.  He was happy to be on the show and eager to help out in any way he could.  The guy was committed.  How committed?  Well, for starters, by the time he'd hit Vancouver, he'd already watched every episode of SG-1 (eight seasons worth!) in preparation.

My only regret with regard to the Cameron Mitchell character was the way he was introduced – specifically, the fact that he was brought in to lead SG-1.  Only problem was SG-1 already had a leader in Samantha Carter.  Well, theoretically she was except that, by the time season nine got underway, SG-1 was no more. With the defeat of the go'auld, the team members had gone their separate ways.  And so, it fell on Mitchell to get the band back together.  My writing partner Paul flagged the potential problem in the writers' room, arguing that giving someone else command of the team (or merely suggesting as much) was disrespectful to the character Carter.  A heated debate ensued and, in the end, a compromise was reached.  Carter and Mitchell would share command team.  Which, in retrospect, did little to quell some of the angry fan response.

AVALON II (902)

Claudia Black demonstrated her talent for comedy in previous episodes, but this one showcases her considerable dramatic range as well.  I remember watching this episode thinking "Damn.  She WOULD make a great series regular!".  And the onscreen chemistry between her and Michael was electric.

A bit of controversy surrounding this episode's fiery death scene.  It was pretty damn horrific – the original edit even more so – and we went back and forth on how much we wanted to show.  In the end, I'm surprised that the network allowed us to show as much as we did.  It was by far the most unsettling scene in my 11+ years on Stargate.

ORIGIN (903)

With Jack O'Neill transferred to Washington, the SGC found itself under the command of General Hank Landry played by veteran actor Beau Bridges.  Beau reminded me a lot of Robert Picardo (Richard Woolsey) – both were very successful, incredibly experienced, and always made it a point to come by our offices to run prospective dialogue changes by us rather than simply surprising us in the dailies.  Like Bob, Beau would always make the time to come up and see us to request even the tiniest of changes.  Both of them were class acts and I have nothing but terrific memories of working with them.

THE TIES THAT BIND (904)

This episode, originally titled "Treasure! Treasure! Treasure!", ran long and, as a result, I had to cut one of my favorite exchanges, part of the scene where an undercover Mitchell encounters alien mercenaries Tenat and Jup:

Tenat eyes Mitchell.

TENAT: Your name?

MITCHELL: Cam Mitchell, bounty hunter.

TENAT: Never heard of you.

MITCHELL: I try to keep a low profile, let my work speak for itself. Don't like to brag, but I've captured some of the most dangerous criminals around.

TENAT: Such as?

MITCHELL: Well … Grabthar the Hammer.

TENAT: Never heard of him.

MITCHELL: The Olsen Twins of Omega 3? Moesha the Vile?

TENAT: No.

MITCHELL: Trebek the Destroyer?

Jup pipes up -

JUP: Him I've heard of.

This was one of my favorite scripts of my 11+ year Stargate run.  I loved the opportunity to write an all-out comic episode – and greatly appreciated the fact that I was supported by actors who could deliver the funny.  From our series regulars to this episode's guest stars, all did a terrific job on The Ties That Bind.

Another scene that I had to cut at the script stage sought to answer the question many curious fans had been asking for years: "What happens if you need to go to the bathroom on a cargo ship?".  In the scene, Jup is at the ship's controls when the door behind him slides open and Tenat enters, pulling up his pants.  Tenat "flushes" by initiating the rings that transport away whatever he just left behind in the back.  Question answered.  And then my fellow producers made me cut it.

One of the many amusing memories of this episode concerns guest star Wallace Shawn (Vizzini in The Princess Bride.  Inconceivable!). Prior to his arrival, I was told he was very excited to be working on the show because he was, in fact, a huge fan of SG-1.  So, on the day of his costume fitting, I went downstairs to say hello and welcome him to Stargate.  "So, you're familiar with the show,"I said.  "Oh, no, I've never seen it,"he informed me.  "I don't even own a t.v.".

Tagged: Beau Bridges, Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Robert Picardo, Stargate, Stargate: SG-1

June 4, 2011: A sneak peek at the standing sets for Transporter: The Series! They eyes (don't) have it! The Stargate: SG-1 season 8 wrap-up!

Yesterday, we took walk through the preliminary standing sets for Transporter: The Series.

Granted, they still need a little work (and Paul, Alexander and I did have a few suggestions) but here's a sneak peek at what we've got so far…

Frank's garage

House access from the garage

Kitchen and living room

Alexander takes a dip in the pool

Widen the pool, lengthen the back patio, a few tweaks here and there, and we're ready to roll!

Yesterday, I went to see the optometrist to get my eyes checked (Why else?  Did you actually think I was going there for an oil change?).  After a number of tests that culminated in her giving me some eye drops that almost instantly had me resembling an anime character -

Actual photo of me taken yesterday.

- I was informed I had a slight astigmatism and racy optical nerves.  I assumed the latter was a compliment (my optic nerves are notoriously sexy and vivacious) but, sadly, it turned out to be a red flag for high blood pressure and other unpleasantness.  Fortunately, I remember having a full physical only recently that included passing grades on my full blood panel, blood pressure, and cholesterol tests (although I did lose marks mispronunciation of the word "awry" that I pronounced "awwwreee").  I don't remember how recent but I'm sure a quick check of the blog will turn up an approximate date that ends with 2011.  Of course that was back in Vancouver but I can't think of anything that may have caused me undue stress over the last, oh, three months.

Anyway, the optometrist suggested I was Libra on the cusp of Scorpio needing reading glasses but suggested I could wait and see.  Unfortunately, that's the problem.  I can't see – especially when I'm reading in a dimly lit room after a day of computer work.  So I ordered a pair of reading glasses.  I lucked out and took advantage of a sale to score a very cool pair complete with horn rims, rhinestones, and a beaded aquamarine chain to keep from losing them.   And they came with a free cardigan!

So, where was I when I last left off my SG-1 reminiscences?  Oh, yeah!  The end of season eight…

Well, it was a bittersweet conclusion to the season – although, yet again, we were heading into those last few episodes assuming they would be SG-1′s last.  The plan was to pass the torch to young upstart spinoff Atlantis and transition SG-1 from the small screen to occasional dvd adventures.  Of course, plans change and, as a result, after a grueling year of producing 40 episodes of television, we were looking forward to another 40 episode year.

RECKONING II (817)

Baal, Anubis, the tok'ra, the Jaffa, the replicators, uneasy alliances, surprises, death and destruct – this episode has it all, concluding a multitude of outstanding stories in grand style.   For all the inter-galactic splendor and ship to ship battles, my favorite moments comes when O'Neill and co. blow the door to free Siler and others trapped inside.  Seconds after the explosion, Siler pokes his head up out from behind the table he is hiding behind – and discovers an enormous piece of shrapnel embedded in the tabletop only inches from his head.  The part of Siler was played by longtime SG-1 stunt coordinate Dan Shea who parlayed the occasional background role to an actual speaking part on the show.  To this day, he's still doing the con circuit, traveling the world to meet his many, many fans.

THREADS  (818)

And almost every story thread that wasn't wrapped up in the previous episode gets wrapped up here: Anubis, Oma Desala, the Jaffa quest for freedom, Jacob/Selmak, stalker Pete, and Jack and Sam.  Well, sort of in the case of the latter.  We know both Jack and Sam end their standing relationships for. presumably, each other – but it's not all that overt which, on the one hand, leaves the door open for future will they/won't they but, on the other hand, is somewhat disappointing given that if there was ever an episode in which to get them together, this would have been it.  That aside, it was a terrific episode and Exec. Producer Robert Cooper packed so much into the script that the usual 42 minute running time wasn't able to contain it.  As a result, a special 90 minute version was released (and later mistakenly omitted when the season 8 dvd was released, much to the displeasure of most fans).

MOEBIUS I (819)

What ever happened to all that cool tech SG-1 amassed over the course of their many adventures: the sarcophagus, the healing device, that time-traveling puddle jumper from It's Good To Be King?  Well, glad you asked because the jumper makes a return appearance in this episode – before heading back for continued R&D (or, in our timeline, just staying right where it is).

Sabrina Gosling, Catherine Langford's niece, is named after Sharon Gosling – author, editor, and freelance writer – who interviewed the cast and crew on numerous occasions over the course of SG-1′s lengthy run.

Alt. Carter's "Now, just because my reproductive organs are on the inside instead of the outside doesn't …" is a callback to the SG-1′s opener, Children of the Gods, and what has long been considered one of the most cringeworthy lines in the history of the franchise.

MOEBIUS II (820)

The end of an era!  Although the series continued, it did so in radically different fashion.  As far as finales go, this one ranks as one of my very favorites.  Given that it was a time travel story, there were plenty of arguments in the writers' room on exactly what could and couldn't work within the two-parter's SF constraints but, in the end, we managed to get it all worked out and my writing partner, Paul, avoided a nervous breakdown.

Tagged: SG-1, Stargate, Stargate: SG-1, Transporter: The Series